|
Copper Canyon
Expedition
One of our more advanced and beautiful wilderness rides, the
expedition follows sections of El Camino Real and parts of the Silver
Trail built by Alexander Shepherd to transport huge quantities of silver
by mule train from Batopilas to Creel. Share the trails with shy
Tarahumara Indians as you descend steep trails into the hidden wonders
of Mexico’s famous Copper Canyon system. This world-class ride takes you
to a place where the old west lifestyle continues as it has for
centuries. Here Indians still live in caves, ranchers struggle to
survive, campgrounds are primitive, and supplies move by foot or animal.
On a true adventure, you join a historic pack trip that recreates
travels of yesteryear. Surefooted mountain horses take you across wide
mountain ranges and down into mile-deep canyons on the historic El
Camino Real. Trails are steep, rugged and rocky as you follow paths
taken by silver and gold conductas. While on the trail you camp
with friendly families at isolated ranchitos where they scrape
out a hard-scrabble living. Camping nights are broken up by hotel nights
to refresh and shower in the historic mining towns of Urique and
Batopilas.
 IT-MXRT02
Rates include all meals,
4 nights in small hotels, 4 nights camping, horses and equipment. Bring your own sleeping
bag, 6 riding days.
9 days/ 8 nights
$ 1,595
Dates 2008:
02/24-03/03* 11/20-11/28**
availability & reservation
... and upon request for groups of 4+
* = extra day at end of trip
included - trip ends on March 4
**= transfer from El Paso
available for this trip. Departure El Paso on Nov 19
and return
on Nov 29 with 2 extra nights => $245 pp
Semana Santa - Easter with the Indians
9 days/ 8 nights
$ 1,375 Single +$250
Non riders $850
Date 2008:
03/16-03/24
see detailed description
Meeting Point:
Bahuichivo train station
Airport:
Chihuahua,
Mexico
Transfer: please take the
train from Chihuahua or Los Mochis to Bahuichivo
(not included)
Level:
Low Intermediate+
Tack:
Western and Peruvian
crillos
Horses:
Quarter, Hispanic Berb
Min/Max
Riders: 3- 12
Min. age: 15
Riding Per Day:
4 - 6 hours
Pace: Slow/Moderate, steep trails
Note:
Small group (2-3) surcharge
+$250
This is a rugged, physically demanding adventure. Although the
horses are "no nonsense" and well trained, you must be an
experienced, confident rider in good physical condition. Rider weight is
restricted to 200 lbs. We spend long hours in the saddle and must hike
some steep or dangerous sections.
Itinerary
Day 0:
The day before the ride starts overnight in Chihuhua or
Cuauthemoc.
Overnight is not included, but can be arranged - room rate ~ $120.
Day
1: Your adventure begins when you board the world-famous ChePe
train in Chihuahua, Cuauhtemoc or Los Mochis on your way to the remote
country inn (train ticket not included - see
train route). Our staff will meet you
at the Bahuichivo train station for a short 8 mile transfer to the
ranch. Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Tarahumara, the staff
meets you with a hearty greeting, potent Margaritas, a traditional
Chihuahua cookout and true Norteño hospitality.
An evening fiesta brings riders together for tall tales and yarns around
a roaring campfire, go easy on the drinks, you have a full day tomorrow.
Day 2: Ringing of the chow bell awakens everyone to a vibrant
mountain morning. Your day at the beautiful Oso is spent picking your
horse and saddle, learning or renewing mountain riding techniques,
packing and resting in preparation for your challenging ride. An
afternoon visit takes you to jewel of the mountains, the centuries-old
Mision de San Francisco in Cerocahui. A quick stop at the Trahumara
Indian girls boarding school then back for final preparations.
Day 3: Your first day on the trail takes you through a dramatic box
canyon into a mountain valley populated by only indigenous people.
Topping out you begin steep descents down mountain trails to an
oasis-like camp below fruit-laden citrus trees.
Day 4: Today’s ride takes you to the tropical paradise of Urique in
time for lunch, exploration and swimming in the very bottom of the
Urique Canyon, deepest of all canyons in the region. Rest well in a fine
hotel before beginning your next day’s ride along the Rio Urique and a
climb to the ghost town of Los Alisos. Tonight’s steak cookout features
fine Chihuahua beef. Help pick fresh grapefruit from our trees and help
prepare the finest Margaritas you have ever tasted.
Day 5:
Leaving
Alisos the next morning, you climb completly out of the Urique Canyon to
a dramatic viewpoint at the very crest. A gentle ride covers the San
Fernando Plateau then down steeply to Los Terros where we camp on the
edge of the Munerachi Canyon overlooking the historic silver mining
pueblo of Cerro Colorado.
Day 6: Downhill to Cerro Colorado the next day where Doña Jula
welcomes us with snacks from her charming country store. The rough
descent over, you ride along cobble-stone paved trails to the famous
silver-mining town of Batopilas, a crown jewel in the bottom of the
canyon.
Unsaddle your horses one last time then off for a quick shower, a stop
in a local cantina, and a T-bone steak or rainbow trout to celebrate!
Day 7: Leaving Los Terreros descend 1,000 feet to the pueblo of
Cerro Colorado for cold soft drinks before continuing along historic
aqueducts to the famous silver mining town of Batopilas. Who can resist
the call of a local cantina as our dusty riders enter Batopilas. After
washing down the dust, we continue to our hotel for a hot shower and
well-deserved break.
Day 8: Day free for optional activities such as a visit to the
famed "Lost Cathedral" or to the Hacienda where the Shepherds directed
mining activities and held gala social events during the late 1800s.
Day 9: Transfer to Creel train station. From here you can
continue your journey to the coast or back to Chihuahua (train ticket
not included).
Itinerary subject to change
This ride begins with two nights at the
hotel followed by a night camping then another hotel night in Urique,
two more nights camping than to Batopilas for two more hotel nights with
free time for exploration or tours on your own.
Your ride covers approximately 75 miles with about 4 miles of elevation
changes. At the end of the ride, everyone is transferred to the
mountain-town of Creel where they may continue their vacation or travel
to Los Mochis or Chihuahua.
Indigenous People: Among the notable features of
the Uruachic region is the variety of native peoples, which include
Tarahumara, Guarojios, Pimas, Mexican "mestizos" and mixtures of all. The
great mining and timber eras also brought in large numbers of Anglo Saxons
-- their contributions to the gene pool can be easily seen in the features
of local Mexican hillbillies.
It is also interesting to note that this area was held
under almost constant siege by the Apaches for well over a century. When
the explorer Carl Lumholtz trekked through over a hundred years ago, he
found that memories of the Apache terror were still quite fresh.
Here's a couple of important historical tidbits from
Uruachic:
Carolina Rascon was born here in the early 1900's. She grew to be over
seven and a half feet tall, and was said to be the world's tallest woman.
Her strength was legendary: she once single-handedly loaded a large iron
cook stove onto the back of a mule.
Among the more notable pistol duels was a face-off held in 1920 between
Rafael Tejo and Federico Rascon at "El Meson". To this day, no one knows
who won -- being good shots, both men were found with matching bullet
holes in the center of their foreheads.
Suitability:
This is a rugged, physically demanding adventure. Although the horses are
no nonsense and well trained, you must be an experienced, confident rider
in good physical condition. Rider weight is restricted to 200 lbs. We
spend long hours in the saddle and must hike some steep or dangerous
sections. Be prepared to cheerfully accept the unplanned and unexpected.
Although the guides and Mexican staff are the best, remote travel in the
Sierra Madre has risk. This is the real thing....comparable to traveling
through the Rocky Mountains in the 1880s. Only the adventurous should
consider this trip.
PLEASE COME PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED AND CHANGES IN THE ITINERARY.
WEATHER These trips are scheduled during the
dry, cool winter season in the Sierra Madre. Our fall and spring dates
will have the warmest temperatures when the canyon bottom can be in the
80's- 90's and the rim at night in the 50's. November through February
dates are cooler with the canyon bottom in the 60's and 70's (nights 50's)
and the rim 40's-70's (nights down to freezing). Winter storm systems
periodically affect this area.
|
|
